Ashes 2023: Cummins, Lyon assist Australia win first Take a look at in a nail-biting finale

Birmingham, June 21 – An excellent rearguard innings of 44 not out by skipper Pat Cummins and his essential 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon (16 not out) helped Australia scamper to a two-wicket victory over England within the nail-biting first Ashes Take a look at of the 2023 sequence on the Edgbaston right here on Tuesday.

Chasing a fourth innings goal of 218 to win the match, Australia, who ended Day 4 at 107/3, had been in hassle after shedding Alex Carey for 20 with the rating 227/8.

The primary recreation of the brand new ICC World Take a look at Championship cycle led to dramatic trend, with Cummins enjoying a captain’s knock to steer his facet to a well-known victory within the Birmingham twilight.

Regardless of shedding the primary session of the day due to rain, England, who declared their first innings at 393/8 and bowled out for 272 of their second, had been sniffing their probabilities as they solely wanted two wickets with Australia needing 54 runs.

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Nonetheless, Cummins and Lyon shared an unfinished 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket as they gave Australia the profitable begin of their try and wrest again the Urn in England after a few years.

England seemed favourites when Cummins got here to the crease, however the skipper added 18 runs alongside Alex Carey after which performed the decisive half within the match-winning stand with Nathan Lyon because the opening match of the Ashes went all the way down to the wire.

It was Cummins who hit the profitable runs, ending on 44 not out and embraced by the unbeaten Lyon (16 not out).

Rain washed out the entire first session to compress the day’s play, with Australia resuming on 107/3 and all outcomes nonetheless potential when play did begin on a cloudy afternoon.

Needing 174 to win, Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland made England sweat for the early breakthrough earlier than Stuart Broad lured the sting from the nightwatchman. Boland’s 20 was his highest Take a look at rating thus far.

Australia bided their time, with Travis Head seeing off a spell of short-pitched bowling.

However Moeen Ali, who struggled all through the day with a finger harm, produced an excellent supply to tie Head up in knots, with Joe Root taking a pointy catch at first slip.

The vacationers had been well-placed, 5 wickets down, at tea. However England did get a glimmer of hope when Cameron Inexperienced’s 66-ball vigil got here to an finish when he chopped an Ollie Robinson ball onto his stumps to depart for 28.

And Khawaja’s defiant 197-ball 65 got here to an finish in the identical trend when he was undone by a slower ball from England captain Stokes.

England delayed taking the brand new ball, and the choice paid off in model when part-time spinner Root clung on to a pointy caught and bowled probability (his third such difficult alternative) to take away Alex Carey for 20 with Australia nonetheless requiring 54 runs to win.

Stress was excessive as England tried every little thing to get the remaining wickets they wanted. However Cummins and Lyon held their nerve to wrap up a well-known victory.

The win offers Australia a 1-0 lead within the sequence with 4 Checks to play. The second Take a look at will begin at Lord’s subsequent Wednesday.

And the result’s the primary within the new cycle of the World Take a look at Championship, with defending champions Australia getting factors on the board on the first time of asking.

Temporary scores:

England 393/8d & 273 misplaced to Australia 286 & 282/8 in 92.3 overs (Usman Khawaja 65, David Warner 36, Pat Cummins 44 not out; Stuart Broad 3-64, Ollie Robinson 2-43) by two wickets.